Coin-controlled clock



June '16, 1925. l i,541,9s4

R. H. MCMINN G01N CONTROLLED CLOCK Filed Apil 20', 1921 2 sheets-sheet 1 June 16, 1925.

1,541,984 R. H. McMlNN COIN CONTROLLED CLOCK Filed April 2O 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 16, 1925.

a UNITED srifras PATENT "DFFICB CorN-ooNTnoLLnn CLOCK.

Appncaaonfiiaiiiprneo,-1921l seriainafieas;

To @ZZ whom it ma@ @f/wem.'

Beit known that IV,'RAYM0ND H. Mo-

lVIINN, "a citizen of theUnit'ed itatearesidtrolled Clock, of which the following is a description. 1 i

My invention relates to improvements 1n clocks, and more particularly to a combined `elock and bank, and in which it is necessary `that a coin be inserted before the clock can be wound. @ne of the objects of my invention is to providea coincontrolled winding mecllanism for a clock as above desribed, in whichfthe coin will be causedl to drop into a suitable coin receptable by theA action of the clock itself, so that the same coin `cannot be used for successive windings. The invention has among itsfu'rther objectsihe provision of a ldevice of the kind `"described which is simple, convenient, coinscribed, and lmore particularly pointedfout in the claims.

` ln the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding pli'tSi, i

Fig.` 1 is a top plan View of my device; Fig. `2 is a rear elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on the; line of Fig. 2; 1 1lg. 4 isa section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

FigfV is ay fragmentary sectional detail ber 8 at its bottom, is a radial slotlfofa ofthe automatic coineejectin'g means;

Fig. 6 isa rear elevationfof a modified forni of my device; and

Fig'. 7 is *a side elevation of the same.

lnthe drawings, wherein l have shown the 'preferred embodiment of my invention,

1 represents the outerl l`casing ofa clock, and

2 the `'rear wall or the bell portion thereof.

The "clock may be of any desired or preferred construction having the usual hand-` setting vdevice `and jalarmLwinding means, anda? winding stem 3," wherebyithe clock inay 'be wound foruse `Secured to the outerend of the winding stem 3 is a hollow cylin-` drical stem extension member ,ha-ving an vend wall 4, at `which it is secured to the stein 3 by. a screw 5 'or the like, the cylindrical wall of the stem extension member being slotted or cut away to provide a pair of arcuate leg or wall members 6 separated `by the spaces or slots 7 therebetween, said slots extending substantially 4the full length of the stein extension member. Concentric with the stein extension member is va stationary annular ring chamber oi guide member Shaving a plurality of circumfer- Ventially spaced and radiallyextending slots being of a width to receive a suitable coin therethrough.

Between the annulus 8 and the cylindrical stein-'extension `member 4 is concentrical-ly positioned a hollow 'cylindrical windingkey 11, safl winding key being freely rotatable between and bearing on both of said meinbers, and having a diametral slot 1Q .therethrough of a thickness substantiallyvequal to that of slots 9 and 10. The end wall 13 of the member 1l is preferably positioned over the outer open end of the stern 'eirtension member 4, and at the outer endfof said end wall is secured a thumb nut 14 or thelike, whereby the winding key may be gripped for manual turning. Thefp'eriph'eral edge of the end wall 13 is preferably shouldered or out away `so las to provide an annular end abutment 15 adapted to engage with one wall of a stationary casing or closure and prevent axial movement of the winding key. It will be understood thatthe parts 6 and 11 may lit one within the other as shown, or vice versa, the essential feature being that they lshallha've registering slots therethrough, whereby4 the coin may be held therein to turn the stein.

In the Vcircun'xferential fwall of the niem- Q and 10 through its arcuate wall, saidslots size substantially greater than that ofthe slots 9 and 10, and adapted to iforin ian ,exit for the coin into the coin receptacle iS. The. coin receptacle S comprises a cover or casing 'having an inner wall 17 and a' laterally extending flange or wall 181 proiecting` outwardly therefrom, said casing be ing preferably` hollow and .enclosing said stem and winding means. AScrews 19 orf the like may be used for` securing the casing` S -to the rear wall of the clock, and if desired,

a washer or other suitable` spacing means may be interposed between the adjacent walls of the clock and the coin receptacle so that the sound of the alarm bell 2 will not be interfered with. The laterally projecting Wall of the coin receptacle has an arcuate portion 21 corresponding to the circular contour of the clock and has a radial portion 2O adjoined thereto, and portion 22 between said arcuate portion and the radial portion, and of any Ypreferred outline to suitably enclose the projecting mechanism. If desired the coin receptacle may be detachable so that it may be removed when full and replaced.

In alignment with said slotted openings 9 and 10, the casing is provided with coinreceiving slots 23 and 24, each comprising a pair of parallel spaced radially extending` tongues or walls 25, 26, one or both of said walls being made flexible by bending its free end backwa-rdly upon itself, and preferably inwardly of the slot, so that the width of the slot opening is slightly less than the width of the coin to be received, and thus when a coin is inserted, the tongues will yielding- Yably engage in either of the diametrically arranged cam-ways 38 in the periphery of the key 11, may be arranged. As shown in Fig. 5, as the key turns freely, due to the runwinding action of the spring, the camway 38 is yieldably engaged by the finger 37, said finger snapping thereinto and jerking the key into position (in dotted lines),

so that itsslots 12 will register with the slot 16, relieving the coin from the turning pressure and cause the coin to be eJected therethrough.

. The operation of the device is as follows:

' lVith the clock face down, a coin C is inseited through either of the slots 9 or 10, depending upon the position of the winding key at the time, and the key 11 then turned until its diametral slot l2 registers with the slot 9 or 10, as the case may be, whereby the coin will drop through the slot 9 or l() and be positioned in the winding key within the i inner peripheral surface of the member 8; then when the key is turned, the coin will abut against and engage with the longitudinal arcuate posts 6 and transmit the torque of the key to the stem. After the stem has y been wound, it is not necessary that the key be turned so that the coin will be inregistry with the slot16 so as to fall therethrough onto the guide 27 and into the receptacle, and as a matter of fact, it might be impossible to so turn the same until the spring unwound. The running of the clock has a tendency to turn the stem and key in the direction of the unwinding of the spring of the clock, and as the key so turns and the cam-way 33 is engaged by the spring-pressed finger 37, said finger will snap into said cam and push or accelerate said key a slight distance ahead of the arcuate turning of the interlocked coin and stem so that the slots 12 are in registry with the slot 16, and therefore the coin lagging behind, will yhave the' pressure therein released and be caused to drop through said slot 16 and into the receptacle. Any desired number of posts 28 may be positioned at suitable points in the casing, cach having a threaded bore therein, adapted to receive the attaching screws 30 for holding a cover plate 31 in place on said casing. If desired, a few screws 32 of smaller size than the screws 30 may extend through the cover plate and be secured to the cylindrical guide member 8.

In order that the coins in said receptacle may be extracted whenever a suilicient amount have accumulated therein, I have provided a lock-controlled door 33 having a lock 34 thereon, the latch bolt 35 of said lock adapted to be engaged in a slot 36 in one of the. walls of said coin receptacle. location and number of the coin slots in which the coin may be inserted may be varied at will without changing the operation of the device.

In Figs. 6 ad 7, I have shown a modified form of device in which the coin receptacle 'is at the bottom of the clock instead of on the rear wall thereof. In this modification a coin guide or chute 52 is provided, leading downwardly from the coin-controlled winding key to the bottom of the receptacle. I have also shown a lock-controlled door 5l in said receptacle.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a clock, a winding stem therefor, a coin-controlled key for operating said winding stem, and means for automatically accelerating said key relative to the unwinding movement of said stem to release a coin therefrom.

2. In combination, la clock, a winding stem therefor, a coin-controlled key for operating said winding stem, and means set in operationv by the winding mechanism of the clock for automatically acceleratingthe unwinding movement of said key relative to The ltr() the unwind'ing movement of said stem. to release Vthe coin therefrom.

3. In combination, a clock, a winding stem therefor, a coin-controlled key for operating said winding stem, said stem and key being adapted to receive a coin to operatively connect them, and means for' automatically accelerating the unwinding rotation of said key relative to said stem to release said coin therefrom.

4. In combination, a clock, a winding stem therefor, a coin-controlled key for operating said winding stem, said stem and key being adapted to receive a coin to operatively connect them, and means set in operation by the winding mechanism of the clock for automatically accelerating the unwinding of said key relative to said stem to release the coin held therebetween.

5. In combination, a clock, a slotted winding stem therefor, a slotted key for said stein, said key and stem being adapted to receive a coin through said slots to opera;V

tively connect said stem and key, and automatic means set in operation by the unwinding of said stem for releasing said coin after said key has been rotated through one or more revolutions.

6. In combination, a clock, a winding stem therefor, a Winding key on said stem, a slotted coin receptacle over said stem, said key being normally freely rotatable on said stem, and means on said stem and key engageable by a coin insertable into the slot in said receptacle for preventing said independent rotational movement of the key on the stem, thereby permitting the stem to be wound through one or more revolutions, and means for automatically accelerating the unwinding of the key relatively to said means on the stem to permit the coin to fall into'the receptacle.

7. In combination, a clock, a winding stem therefor continuously driven in one direction, a radially slotted cylindrical member affixed to and projecting from said stem, a cylindrical key on said cylindrical member and having a radial slot therethrough, Ia cylindrical guide chamber enclosing the cylindrical wall of said key and preventing lateral movement thereof, said guide chamber havin a plurality of circumferentially spaced raial slots therethrough, whereby a coin may be inserted through the one of said circumferentially spaced slots which is in Vstem therefor, a key having a slot therethrough to receive a coin through said slot to operatively connect said stem and key together, and means automatically set in operation by the unwinding movement of said l stem to release said coin.

9. In combination, a clock, a winding stem, a winding key surrounding said stem, both said stem and said key having aligned slots laterally therethrough, a coin receptacle having a part fitting over said stem and having a slot communicating with the slot` in the stem, whereby a coin inserted through the slo-t in the receptacle will be tightly held in the registering slots of the stem and winding key athwart the slotted walls thereof upon winding, and prevent independent rotational movement therebetween, and means automatically operable to relieve the pressure on the coin to cause it to drop into said receptacle.

InY testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RAYMOND H. MOMINN.

llfitnesses: Y v Roy W. HILL,

BERTHA HARTMANN. 

